Stockport County Have Everything Still On The Line And Can Strike Big

Stockport County have already confirmed their League One play-off place, but there’s still plenty to play for against Wycombe Wanderers this weekend.

It’s been an incredible return to third-tier action for the Hatters, challenging near the top of the table throughout the season and earning their shot at promotion.

They’ll be joined in the battle with Wycombe Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and one of Leyton Orient and Reading, depending on results on the final day.

The result itself may not alter County’s entry to the play-offs, but it’s a vital fixture on a number of fronts.

Momentum will be key for the Hatters’ play-off hopes

It’s so often the case that a team that sneaks into the play-offs at the very end of the season goes on to win it, while the teams that have been there consistently slip at the crucial moment.

Some view it as one of those strange quirks in football, like ex-players always scoring against their former sides or lunchtime kick-offs consistently throwing up strange results, but the truth of the matter is likely much simpler: they’re just in form, and that’s how they’ve risen up the table at the right moment.

County will go into the promotion deciders as one of the favourites, given their season-long consistency but, thankfully for them, they look set to enter in good form, having lost just once in their last 12 league outings – to promoted side Wrexham.

That said, Wrexham aside, Wycombe are undoubtedly the strongest side they’ll face on that run, so they need to be on top form to keep their run intact, which mentality-wise could be vital for the play-offs.

Stockport County will want third place

The competitive streak of the Hatters alone will be enough for them to want to end the season as high up the table as possible, but there are also important ramifications for the play-offs.

Third place gets the notionally ‘easier’ draw of playing sixth place – although given the aforementioned voodoo around late entrants, the jury’s out on whether that’s a perk – but much more important is that they get the second leg of the play-offs at home.

This is a huge advantage, not only for playing the most decisive leg in front of a vocal Edgeley Park crowd, but also because if the tie goes to extra-time and penalties, these will also occur on home turf.

The Hatters know only too well how much of a difference this can make, having beat Salford City in a shootout at Edgeley Park in a League Two play-off semi-finals in 2022/23.

Wycombe Wanderers trip could be a test run of the play-off final

Finally, Saturday’s game is all-important because the fixture could be a precursor to the play-off final itself, should both sides get there.

While not mathematically confirmed, the vast majority of potential outcomes on the final day will see County and Wycombe avoid each other in the semi-final.

That, therefore, means that there’s every chance Saturday’s game could be the same line-up as at Wembley Stadium in just under a month.

Neither manager will admit to thinking this far ahead with a semi-final still to play, but they’ll be fully aware of potential, which could make Saturday’s ground a mental minefield as the two bosses work each other out, test things in a relatively safe environment and gather intel on their opponents, while trying not to give too much away.

With both having secured play-offs already, there may seem to be little on the line, but there’s plenty for Stockport and Wycombe to play for on the final day of the League One season.